The University of the Free State (UFS) recently hosted 11 students and 3 staff members from the University of San Diego (USD) as part of a study abroad programme designed to broaden their understanding of South Africa’s history, environment, and social dynamics.

“The purpose of the visit was to help the students engage with South Africa’s rich history, while exploring the sustainable solutions being applied to address the country’s unique environmental and social challenges,” said Prof Shola Ololade, Associate Professor and acting Director of the Centre for Environmental Management (CEM) at the UFS.

The visiting students came from four academic departments: Environmental and Ocean Sciences, Political and International Relations, Integrative Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. Their time in South Africa formed part of their study abroad programme, where they will write reports relating to their academic disciplines upon return to their home institution, contributing towards assessment by their accompanying faculty members.

A programme linking history, environment, and sustainability

Their programme included a visit to Kimberley for an informative tour of Kamfers Dam in conjunction with staff from the CEM and the Centre for Global Change at Sol Plaatje University. They also visited The Big Hole, had lunch at the Kimberley Club Museum Restaurant, and watched a documentary at the Planetarium on their second day in Bloemfontein.

On the third day, the students attended a mini symposium titled Sustainable Solutions for Environmental and Disaster Management, hosted at the CEM. “The symposium highlights the research being conducted by staff and students at the UFS relevant to environmental and disaster management, and what the UFS could offer should USD consider a short study abroad programme,” said Prof Ololade.

This visit forms part of a continuing relationship between the UFS and the USD, strengthened by a collaboration established when Prof Ololade spent a sabbatical at the USD Department of Environmental and Ocean Sciences between August 2022 and January 2023.

As Prof Ololade explained, the visit was also an opportunity to lay the groundwork for deeper collaboration. “The future plan is to establish a collaboration where students from the University of San Diego can consider the UFS as an institution of choice for a study abroad programme and possible reciprocal visits if successful.”

One of the key insights shared during the symposium was that South Africa and the United States face similar environmental and disaster-related challenges. “The environmental and disaster issues South Africa are facing are similar to those occurring in the USA and showcase how South Africa is proffering solutions through research based on its local context,” Prof Ololade noted.